Wedding Cake Icing

1/4 cup white Crisco

1/4 cup margarine

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. vanilla

1/8 to 1/4 tsp. almond extract

1/4 cup water

4 cups powdered sugar

Mix shortening, margarine, water, vanilla, almond extract, and half of the powdered sugar with a mixer for 5-10 minutes (it's very important to mix this long). Add the rest of the powdered sugar and beat just enough to mix in (I always have to add more than the remaining 2 cups to get the right consistancy). Add additional water if needed.

This has quickly become my usual frosting, it tastes just like a bakery frosting! I made this frosting with boxed cake mixes for my daughter's two Veggie Tales themed birthday parties.

M&M Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups M&Ms plain (3/4 pound)

Cream shortening and sugars in large bowl. Beat in vanilla and eggs. Stir in remaining dry ingredients. Stir in 1/2 cup candies (reserve remaining for decorating). Drop from teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet, decorate tops with remaining candies (about 3 per cookie). Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Breadstick Bones

1 can of refrigerated breadsticks (either 6 breadsticks or 12 breadsticks in a can)

1 egg white, beaten

1 TBLS. grated parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. italian seasoning

1 jar of marinara sauce or 1 jar of pizza sauce (dipping breadsticks in)

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough; separate at perforations into either 6 or 12 breadsticks (depending on how many come in your can). Roll each breadstick with a rolling pin until 12 inches long. Loosely tie a knot in both ends of each breadstick; place on cookie sheet. Brush breadsticks with egg white. Sprinkle with cheese and italian seasoning. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with warm dipping sauce.

Benjamin and Ada's daycare had a Halloween party so I sent these along for a snack. The kids enjoyed dipping the bones into the sauce. These tasted great warm! Plus, they were so easy to make.

Applesauce Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup applesauce

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and applesauce Stir in flour and spices. Fold in raisins and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes. Frost with powdered sugar frosting while cookies are still warm.

These are one of my favorite fall foods! They are wonderful when they are fresh from the oven. The powdered sugar frosting is a MUST!!! Since Ada cannot have nuts until she is at least two I omitted the nuts. I also omitted the raisins as I just wasn't in a raisin mood! They still tasted AWESOME!! My cookies baked for 8-9 minutes so just watch them when you put them in your oven. You will not be disappointed with these cookies.

Corn and Sausage Casserole

1 lb sausage, browned & drained
1 can cream-style corn
2/3 cup crushed soda crackers
1 egg
1 cup milk

Mix crackers, egg, and milk; add to other ingredients. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

I use one sleeve of saltine crackers--we like it to feel/taste fuller. I also spray my pan with cooking oil before baking.

Pumpkin Bread

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsps. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Stir together pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Variations: Add nuts and/or raisins to the bread (1/2 cup each). I also add ginger or pumpkin pie spice for an extra kick.

Have I said that pumpkin bread is my weakness? I love this stuff and I am always trying new pumpkin bread recipes! I have been in the pumpkin bread making mood lately! Yummy!!

Banana Bread

Since I made 5 loaves of banana bread for our church's bake sale and country store I figured I might as well share my recipe.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
3 bananas
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla

Cream oil, sugar, and eggs. In separate bowl, mash the bananas with the cold water. Add to creamed mixture. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Add vanilla. Pour into greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

You can add nuts or chocolate chips to this bread if you like. I generally use my mini loaf pan (makes 4 mini loaves) and it bakes about 40 minutes.